When the Coast Guard and other agencies and contractors responded after Hurricane Florence to the preponderance of storm-tossed and damaged boats, they were restricted by state law in what they could do.

Duke Energy says its sampling of the Cape Fear River shows no significant harm resulted from the Sutton Plant coal ash spill, but others contend the utility’s own results and state standards raise red flags.

The legislature in June threw a lifeline to The Riggings, a condo complex in Kure Beach threatened by erosion since its construction, but the sandbag rule change is just another short-term fix in a losing battle with the ocean.

It’s been a year since news was first reported of GenX and other contaminants in the Cape Fear region’s drinking water, but despite all the attention, little progress has been made to protect public health.